A new series of the much loved Scannal kicks off tonight at 7pm on RTÉ ONE with A Holy Terror, the story of Fr. Patrick Ryan, a former Catholic priest and a highly controversial and divisive figure in Ireland's modern history
Rugadh Ryan sa Ros Mór, Contae Thiobraid Árann ar an 26 Meitheamh 1930, agus oirníodh é in 1954 ina shagart Pallóiteach agus thug sé seirbhís i misin sa Tansáin agus i Londain. Bhí blianta luatha a shaoil múnlaithe ag tionchair láidre náisiúnacha, go háirithe óna mháthair, rud a shocraigh a chuid rannpháirtíochta polaitiúla agus paraimíleata ina dhiaidh sin.
Born in Rossmore, County Tipperary, on June 26, 1930, Ryan was ordained in 1954 as a Pallottine priest and served in missions in Tanzania and London. His early life was shaped by strong nationalist influences, particularly from his mother, which later defined his political and paramilitary involvement.
Ag deireadh na 1960idí, d'éirigh Ryan as an gcléir agus bhí baint mhór aige leis an IRA Sealadach. Bhí sé, más fíor, ag gníomhú ina chainéal arm agus maoinithe, agus deirtear go raibh ceangal aige le Muammar Gaddafi ón Libia. Bhí ról ag na gléasanna maidhmtha buama a rinne sé i roinnt ionsaithe mór le rá de chuid an IRA, lena n-áirítear luíochán an Phointe 1979 agus buamáil óstán Brighton in 1984.
In the late 1960s, Ryan abandoned his clerical duties and became deeply involved with the Provisional IRA, allegedly acting as a conduit for arms and funding, including connections with Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. His engineering of bomb detonation devices played a role in several high-profile IRA attacks, including the 1979 Warrenpoint ambush and the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing.
Spreag gabháil Ryan sa Bheilg in 1988, agus iarracht eiseachadta ag an Ríocht Aontaithe ar theip air ina dhiaidh sin, conspóid idirnáisiúnta agus teannas polaitiúil idir an Bhreatain agus Éire. Rinne Príomh-Aire na Breataine Margaret Thatcher cáineadh go poiblí ar an iarracht eiseachadta a raibh teipthe air, agus chosain ceannairí na hÉireann an próiseas dlíthiúil agus ceart Ryan ar thriail chóir.
Ryan's arrest in Belgium in 1988, followed by a failed extradition attempt by the UK, sparked international controversy and political tension between Britain and Ireland. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher publicly condemned the failure to extradite him, while Irish leaders defended the legal process and Ryan’s right to a fair trial.
In ainneoin go leor líomhaintí agus agallamh ardphróifíle leis an BBC in 2019 inar admhaigh Ryan go raibh baint aige le déanamh buamaí an IRA, níor ciontaíodh riamh é i gcúiseamh a bhain le sceimhlitheoireacht.
Sa bhliain 1989, rinne Ryan rud nach ndearnadh riamh cheana- ba é an chéad sagart riamh a chuaigh san iomaíocht i dtoghchán i bPoblacht na hÉireann, agus sheas sé ina iarrthóir neamhspleách le tacaíocht Shinn Féin i dtoghcháin Pharlaimint na hEorpa.
Tá oidhreacht an Athar Patrick Ryan an-chonspóideach i gcónaí. Measann roinnt daoine gur náisiúnaí tiomanta a bhí ann agus cáineann daoine eile é as an ról a bhí aige sa choimhlint fhoréigneach.
Despite multiple allegations and a high-profile BBC interview in 2019 where Ryan admitted involvement in IRA bomb-making, he was never convicted of terrorism-related charges.
In 1989, Ryan made history as the first priest to contest an election in the Republic of Ireland, running as an independent with Sinn Féin support in the European Parliament elections.
Fr. Patrick Ryan's legacy remains deeply divisive, revered by some as a committed nationalist and condemned by others for his role in violent conflict.
A Holy Terror – The story of Fr. Patrick Ryan, Dé Máirt, Tuesday 2nd September, RTÉ ONE, 7.00pm
